Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-11-26
FIRE FLAKES.
HEAVY DESTRUCTION OF PROP
ERTY OF ALL KINDS.
Caused to a Great Extent by the Pro-
longed Drought Throughout the coun-
try-Barnums Show With Many
Animals Lost

Last Sunday night Elkton, KY,
was visited by confiagration, which
destroyed three hotels, several stores,
law Offices and residences. The loss
is roughly estimated at &25, 900, only
partly covered by insurance. Owing
to the scarcity of water, the inhab.
itants were almost powerless to ar
rest the march Of the flames,
AT Astoria, Oregon, last Monday
the steamer Telephone burned to the
waters edge. She was on her reg
ular trip from Portland with 15C
passengers. Just as she approached
tho city, fire was discovered on her
lower deck, just forward Of the en-
gines. The boat was running al
such high speed that in less than a
moment the whole after part was en-
veloped in flames. All passengers
escaped except one intoxicated man
The Telephone was the tasted stern.
wheel boat in the world, and the
fastest craft of any kind on the Pa
cific coast waters. Last summer she
made the run from Portland to Asto'
ria, ninety-six miles, in four hours
and thirty-seven minutes. Loss
$40, 900; insurance, 100000.
The residence of George M. Drake
formerly editor of the Knoxville
Chronicle, located on Lookout noun
tain, was entirely consumed by fire
Sunday night last.
The main building of Barnum 4
Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth was
entirely destroyed by fire at Bridge
port, Conn, last Saturday night
About 10:30 o'clock an alarm was
sounded, quickly followed by a gen
eral alarm, and thousands of people
were drawn to hespot. In less thar
thirty minutes the big building
which was 600 by 200 feet and tive
stories in height, was entirely con
sumed. The first ,intimation of thu
fire was given by the roaring of thu
lions and tigers, who seemed to re
alize the impending danger. Mex
the elephants struggled in thei
chains, but in an incredibly shor
time the flames swept from one ent
of the huge structure to the other.
No cne dared to approach tn
building, being fearful of the crazet
animals. Three elephants wer
burned up and thirty-six broke from
their fastening and dashed through
the sides Of the building. Thei
roars and trumpetings and sounds Q
torment were terrible. Six elephant
and large African hlppopotamu
rushed about the streets presenting
sickening appearance. Their side
were burned, and great pieces @
flesh foot square fell off.
In the horse-room were all the rim,
animals, trained stations, ponies
etc. These were all burned. In tn
upper rooms were the tents, poles
seats, harness, etc., for the entir
show, and these, too, were all de
stroyed.
In the cat room were the birds
monkeys, three rhinosceroses, hye
mas, tigers, lions and all the menage
rie, which fell prey to the flames. S
rapidly did the flames leap across tn
main building that the firemen mad
no attempt to save it, but turne
their streams upon the chariot build
ings and car sheds, which they sue
ceeded in saving, but the heat was S
intense that this was accomplishe
with the greatest difficulty. TIL
total lost is estimated at $7OO,00(
upon which there was but 800, ,OC
insurance.
Reports Of destructive fires hav
been received from every quarter Z.
|
Tennessee and Kentucky since th
last issue of the CHRONICLE, and
many instances were caused by fo
est fires which have prevailed to a
alarming extent owning to the col
: tinued dry weather all over tf
. country. The business portions of
great many towns in the Stat,
named have crumbled into ashe
and the aggregate loss is immens
Reports come in from the countr
within a radius Of fifty miles of lars
losses sustained by farmers by Il
burning Of their fences and 9th,
loose property, caused by woods fire